Jaw exercising device

ABSTRACT

A jaw exercising device for use in exercising facial muscles has a gripping member mounted on and extending from a frame and a gripping member extending from a member movable within the frame in response to movement of a jaw of a person biting the gripping members, the movement being controlled by a resilient member urging the movable member away from an abutment portion of the frame member.

United States Patent [191 Rudolph et al.

1 1March 20, 1973 JAW EXERCISING DEVICE [75] lnventors: l-lans Rudolph, Kansas City, Mo.; Richard C. Ye, Shawnee Mission,

Kans.

[73] Assignee: Hans Rudolph, lnc., Kansas City,

[22] Filed: Nov. 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 93,246

52 US. Cl. ..272/83 R, 272/1310. 4, 272/57 11 51 1111.01... ..A 63b 21/00 [58] Field of Search.272/83' R, 83 A, 82, 79 R, 79 A, 272/79 B, 79 c, 79 D, so, 68, 67, DIG. 4,

DIG. 5, 57 R; 128/26 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,851,865 3/1932 Ptacek ..272/57 R 1,855,573 4/1932 Haber ..272/83 R 938,348 10/1909 Stull 1 272/68 843,291 2/1907 Mullins ..272/68 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 70,164 6/1914 Switzerland ..272/68 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant ExaminerArnold W. Kramer Att0rney-Fishbum, Gold and Litman [57] ABSTRACT A jaw exercising device for use in exercising facial muscles has a gripping member mounted on and extending from a frame and a gripping member extending from a member movable within the frame in response to movement of a jaw of a person biting the gripping members, the movement being controlled by a resilient member urging the movable member away from an abutment portion of the frame member.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures J AW EXERCISING DEVICE The present invention relates to jaw exercising devices and more particularly to a jaw exercising device having means for varying the muscular effort required to operate same.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a jaw exercising device adapted to be used by patients recovering from injuries to the bones and muscles of the face and neck to improve facial muscles and appearance; to provide such a jaw exercising device adapted to be bitten or gripped by the teeth of the patient and moved toward'and away from an abutment portion of a frame in response to movement of a jaw of the person biting the jaw exercising device for improvement of muscular strength and appearance; to provide such a jaw exercising device which is easily adjustable to vary the muscular effort necessary to operate same; to provide such a jaw exercising device particularly adapted to exercise and strengthen facial muscles and particularly those employed to open and close the lower jaw; and to provide such a jaw exercising device which is durable in construction, relatively simple in operation, economical to manufacture, positive and direct in operation, and particularly well adapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a jaw exercising device embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the jaw exercising device with portions broken away to better illustrate the component parts.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the jaw exercising device with portions broken away to better illustrate the component parts.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally designates a jaw exercising device adapted to be gripped or bitten by a person recovering from a jaw or face injury or a person desiring improvement in facial appearance wherein movement of the lower jaw of the person is operative to move a movable member 2 toward and away from an abutment or stationary portion or member 3 on a frame 4 to thereby exercise and strengthen the facial muscles, particularly those for moving the lower jaw.

In the illustrated structure the frame 4 has an elongated base portion 5 and a pair of longitudinally spaced arms 6 and 7 extending transversely from the base portion 5. Flanges 8 and 9 extend transversely from the arms 6 and 7 respectively and the flanges 8 and 9 are aligned and in spaced parallel relation with the base portion 5 of the frame 4 and the flanges 8 and 9 have the free ends thereof in facing relation.

A pair of longitudinally spaced guide bars or rails 10 and l I extend between the base portion 5 and a respective flange. The guide bars 10 and 11 are parallel with and adjacent the arms 6 and 7 respectively. The movable member 2 is movable along the guide bars 10 and 11 between the base portion 5 and the flanges 8 and 9, as later described.

The movable member 2 has a base portion 12 and enlarged end portions 13 and 14 extending transversely from the base portion 12 and positioned adjacent the arms 6 and 7 respectively. The base portion 12 of the movable member 2 is parallel with the base portion 5 of the frame 4 and the end portions 13 and 14 each have passages 15 and 16 respectively therethrough with the guide bars 10 and 11 extending through the passages 15 and 16 respectively to guide the movement of the movable member 2 toward and away from the base portion 5 of the frame 4. The enlarged end portions 13 and 14 are shaped and positioned to engage the flanges 8 and 9 respectively thereby limiting movement of the movable member 2 away from the base portion 5 of the frame 4.

Resilient means are provided to engage the movable member 2 to resist movement thereof toward the base portion 5 of the frame 4 and for urging same away from the base portion 5 and into engagement with the flanges 8 and 9.

In the illustrated structure, a pair of rotatably mounted shafts l7 and 18 are positioned adjacent and parallel with the arms 6 and 7 respectively and the shafts l7 and 18 have opposite ends rotatably mounted in the base portion 5 and the flanges 8 and 9 respectively. Elongated tubular members 19 and '20 are sleeved on the shafts 17 and 18 respectively. Means are provided for effecting movement of the tubular members 19 and 20 along the rotatable shafts l7 and 18 respectively in response to rotation thereof. In the illustrated structure, at least a portion of the length of the shafts l7 and 18 have threads thereon and the tubular members 19 and 20 each have an annular lip or ring therein adapted to interengage with the threads on the shafts 17 and 18 respectively whereby rotation of the shafts as by knobs 21 and 22 effects movement of the tubular members along the rotatable shafts.

The resilient means for resisting movement of the movable member 2 toward the base portionS is illustrated as elongated coil or helical springs 23 and 24 sleeved on the rotatable shafts l7 and 18 respectively, with each having opposite ends thereof engaging the movable member 2 and the respective tubular member.

The end portions 13 and 14 of the movable member 2 have chambers 25 and 26 therein shaped to have one end of the springs 23 and 24 respectively engaging the movable member 2 therein. The springs 23 and 24 have the other or opposite ends thereof received within and in engagement with the tubular members 19 and 20 respectively whereby movement of the tubular members 19 and20 along the shafts 17 and 18 respectively adjusts or varies the resistance to movement of the movable member 2 toward the base portion 5 of the frame 4.

It is desirable to provide means associated with the adjustment of the resistance to movement of the movable member 2 toward the base portion 5 to effect maximum and minimum values of the resistance.

In the illustrated structure, elongated slots 27 and 28 are formed in the arms 6 and 7 adjacent the base portion 5 and the slots 27 and 28 are preferably coaxial with the arms 6 and 7 respectively. Projections 29 and 30 are mounted on the tubular members 19 and 20 to extend therefrom and into the slots 27 and 28 respectively. The projections 29 and 30 are engageable with opposite ends of the respective slots whereby the ends of the slots 27 and 28 define maximum and minimum values of the resistance to movement of the movable member 2 toward the base portion 5 of the frame 4.

The frame 4 and movable member 2 have portions thereon to be engaged by teeth of a person whereby the movable member 2 may be moved toward and away from the base portion 5 of the frame 4 in response to movement of a jaw of the person biting said portions to be engaged by the teeth of the person.

In the illustrated structure, the abutment portion 3 and a stop portion 31 are mounted on the base portions 5 and 12 respectively and extend therefrom to be engaged by teeth of a person whereby the movable member 2 is moved toward and away from the base portion 5 of the frame 4 in response to movement of a jaw of a person biting the abutment portion 3 and the stop portion 31. The abutment portion 3 and the stop portion 31 may be formed in any desired shape adapted to be engaged by the teeth of a person operating the jaw exercising device 1. In the illustrated structure, portions 3 and 31 are planar members and at least one of the portions 3 and 31 has a raised portion 32 thereon to be engaged by interior surfaces of teeth to maintain the portions 3 and 31 within the mouth of a person operating the jaw exercising device.

In using a jaw exercising device, constructed as shown and described, the knobs 21 and 22 are turned to position the projections 29 and 30 at desired locations within the slots 27 and 28 respectively thereby establishing the resistance to be overcome by a person biting the portions 3 and 31 and moving their lower jaw toward a closed position. It is noted that the movable member 2 is shaped to provide clearance for the chin and lower jaw portions of a person using the jaw exercising device 1. Both movement toward and away from the base portion 5 of the frame 4 is effective to exercise the muscles of the face particularly the jaw muscles wherein effort must be exerted to overcome the resistance of the springs 23 and 24 to move the member 2 toward the base portion of the frame 4 and muscular effort must beextended to prevent too rapid movement of the member 2 toward the flanges 8 and 9.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to this specific form or arrangement of part herein described and shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A jaw excerising device comprising:

a. a frame member having an elongated base portion and an arm extending transversely from each end of said base portion, each of said arms having a flange extending therefrom, said flanges being aligned in spaced parallel relation with said base portion;

b. a pair of longitudinally spaced guide bars each extending between said base portion and a respective flange;

c. a movable member mounted on said frame member for movement toward and away from said base portion, said movable member having said guide bars extending therethrough, said movable member being movable between said base portion and said flanges of said frame member;

d. bite portions on each of said frame member and movable member extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said bite portions being one over the other and normally in spaced apart relation whereby said bite portions are engageable with teeth of a person;

e. resilient means engaging said movable member for resisting movement thereof toward said base portion and for urging said movable member away from said base portion whereby said movable member may be moved toward and away from said base portion in response to movement of a jaw of a person biting said bite portions on said movable member and said frame member; and

f. adjustment means engaging said resilient means for varying resistance to movement of said movable member toward said base portion of said frame member.

2. A jaw exercising device comprising:

a. a frame member having an elongated base portion and an arm extending transversely from each end of said base portion, each of said arms having a flange extending therefrom, said flanges being aligned in spaced parallel relation with said base portion;

b. a pair of longitudinally spaced guide bars each extending between said base portion and a respective flange;

c. a movable member having said guide bars extending therethrough, said movable member being movable between said base portion and said flanges of said frame member;

d. resilient means engaging said movable member for resisting movement of said movable member toward said base portion and for urging same away from said base portion of said frame member; and

e. portions on said frame member and said movable member to be engaged by teeth of a person whereby said movable member may be moved toward and away from said base portion of said frame member in response to movement of a jaw of the person biting said portions to be engaged by the teeth of the person.

3. The jaw exercising device as set forth in claim 2 including:

a. a pair of shafts, each parallel with and spaced from one of said arms and having opposite ends thereof rotatably mounted in said base portion and a respective flange;

b. an elongated tubular member sleeved on each of said shafts;

c. means on each of said shafts and in said respective tubular member sleeved thereon for effecting movement of said respective tubular member along said shaft in response to rotation of said respective shaft;

d. an elongated slot in each of said arms, said slots each being parallel with said adjacent shaft and tubular member thereon; and

e. a projection extending from each tubular member and into the slot in the adjacent arm, said projections each being engageable with opposite ends of said respective slot whereby the ends of said slots define maximum and minimum values of the resistance to movement of said movable member toward said base portion of said frame member.

4. The jaw exercising device as set forth in claim 2 including:

a. adjustment means engaging said resilient means for varying resistance to movement of said movable member toward said base portion of said frame member; and

b. means associated with said adjustment means for effecting maximum and minimum values of the resistance to movement of said movable member toward said frame member.

5. A jaw exercising device comprising:

a. a frame member having an abutment portion thereon, said frame member having an elongated base portion and a pair or longitudinally spaced arms extending from said base portion, each of said arms having an elongated slot therein;

b. a movable member mounted on said frame member for movement toward and away from said abutment portion;

c. a pair of shafts each rotatably mounted on said frame member and each said shaft being adjacent and parallel with and spaced from a respective one of said arms of said frame member;

d. cooperating portions on said frame member and said movable member to guide said movable member;

e. means on said frame member for limiting movement of said movable member away from said abutment portion, said pair of shafts each extending between said base portion of said frame member and said means on said frame member for limiting said movement of said movable member;

resilient means engaging said movable member for resisting movement thereof toward said abutment portion and for urging said movable member away from said abutment portion whereby said movable member may be moved toward and away from said abutment portion in response to movement of a jaw of a person biting said movable member and said frame member; and

. adjustment means engaging said resilient means for varying resistance to movement of said movable member toward said abutment portion, said adjustment means including a pair of elongated tubular members with each of said pair of tubular members being sleeved on a respective one of said pair of shafts and means on each of said shafts and in said tubular member thereon for effecting movement of said tubular members along said respective shafts in response to rotation of said shafts and a passage through said movable member for each of said shafts, said passages being shaped to have said resilient means mounted therein and engaging said respective tubular members and said movable member whereby movement of said tubular members along said respective shafts varies the resistance to movement of said movable member toward said frame member and a projection extending from each of said tubular members and into the slot in the adjacent arm of said frame member, each of said projections being engageable with opposite ends of said respective slots whereby the ends of said slots define maximum and minimum values of the resistance to movement of said movable member toward said frame member. 

1. A jaw excerising device comprising: a. a frame member having an elongated base portion and an arm extending transversely from each end of said base portion, each of said arms having a flange extending therefrom, said flanges being aligned in spaced parallel relation with said base portion; b. a pair of longitudinally spaced guide bars each extending between said base portion and a respective flange; c. a movable member mounted on said frame member for movement toward and away from said base portion, said movable member having said guide bars extending therethrough, said movable member being movable between said base portion and said flanges of said frame member; d. bite portions on each of said frame member and movable member extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said bite portions being one over the other and normally in spaced apart relation whereby said bite portions are engageable with teeth of a person; e. resilient means engaging said movable member for resisting movement thereof toward said base portion and for urging said movable member away from said base portion whereby said movable member may be moved toward and away from said base portion in response to movement of a jaw of a person biting said bite portions on said movable member and said frame member; and f. adjustment means engaging said resilient means for varying resistance to movement of said movable member toward said base portion of said frame member.
 2. A jaw exercising device comprising: a. a frame member having an elongated base portion and an arm extending transversely from each end of said base portion, each of said arms having a flange extending therefrom, said flanges being aligned in spaced parallel relation with said base portion; b. a pair of longitudinally spaced guide bars each extending between said base portion and a respective flange; c. a movable member having said guide bars extending therethrough, said movable member being movable between said base portion and said flanges of said frame member; d. rEsilient means engaging said movable member for resisting movement of said movable member toward said base portion and for urging same away from said base portion of said frame member; and e. portions on said frame member and said movable member to be engaged by teeth of a person whereby said movable member may be moved toward and away from said base portion of said frame member in response to movement of a jaw of the person biting said portions to be engaged by the teeth of the person.
 3. The jaw exercising device as set forth in claim 2 including: a. a pair of shafts, each parallel with and spaced from one of said arms and having opposite ends thereof rotatably mounted in said base portion and a respective flange; b. an elongated tubular member sleeved on each of said shafts; c. means on each of said shafts and in said respective tubular member sleeved thereon for effecting movement of said respective tubular member along said shaft in response to rotation of said respective shaft; d. an elongated slot in each of said arms, said slots each being parallel with said adjacent shaft and tubular member thereon; and e. a projection extending from each tubular member and into the slot in the adjacent arm, said projections each being engageable with opposite ends of said respective slot whereby the ends of said slots define maximum and minimum values of the resistance to movement of said movable member toward said base portion of said frame member.
 4. The jaw exercising device as set forth in claim 2 including: a. adjustment means engaging said resilient means for varying resistance to movement of said movable member toward said base portion of said frame member; and b. means associated with said adjustment means for effecting maximum and minimum values of the resistance to movement of said movable member toward said frame member.
 5. A jaw exercising device comprising: a. a frame member having an abutment portion thereon, said frame member having an elongated base portion and a pair or longitudinally spaced arms extending from said base portion, each of said arms having an elongated slot therein; b. a movable member mounted on said frame member for movement toward and away from said abutment portion; c. a pair of shafts each rotatably mounted on said frame member and each said shaft being adjacent and parallel with and spaced from a respective one of said arms of said frame member; d. cooperating portions on said frame member and said movable member to guide said movable member; e. means on said frame member for limiting movement of said movable member away from said abutment portion, said pair of shafts each extending between said base portion of said frame member and said means on said frame member for limiting said movement of said movable member; f. resilient means engaging said movable member for resisting movement thereof toward said abutment portion and for urging said movable member away from said abutment portion whereby said movable member may be moved toward and away from said abutment portion in response to movement of a jaw of a person biting said movable member and said frame member; and g. adjustment means engaging said resilient means for varying resistance to movement of said movable member toward said abutment portion, said adjustment means including a pair of elongated tubular members with each of said pair of tubular members being sleeved on a respective one of said pair of shafts and means on each of said shafts and in said tubular member thereon for effecting movement of said tubular members along said respective shafts in response to rotation of said shafts and a passage through said movable member for each of said shafts, said passages being shaped to have said resilient means mounted therein and engaging said respective tubular members and said movable member whereby movement of said tubular members along said respective shafts varies the resistance to movement of said movabLe member toward said frame member and a projection extending from each of said tubular members and into the slot in the adjacent arm of said frame member, each of said projections being engageable with opposite ends of said respective slots whereby the ends of said slots define maximum and minimum values of the resistance to movement of said movable member toward said frame member. 